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Let’s Share What We Learned in January

Welcome to What We Learned, a regular practice we engage in together as we learn the value of looking back before moving forward. No lesson is too small to share in this space, as you will quickly see when you read my list.

Here are 7 things I learned in January:

1. Zachary Levi can sing!

I guess I knew this in some secret recess of my mind because Tangled. But I forgot! And learned it again!

2. The judge who swore in LBJ to the presidency after JFK was assassinated was a woman.

They waited over an hour on the tarmac on Air Force One for a judge to arrive. Her name was Sarah T. Hughes and, though I’ve seen the photos many times over the years, it wasn’t until I watched a documentary called The Day Kennedy Died on Netflix and heard her voice that it struck me as interesting. She was, evidently, a long time friend of President Johnson’s.

PS. If you’re a writer at ALL interested in writing a book, you can join us for the next webinar on February 8. It’s free! Go here to sign up.

4. I read some pretty great books in 2015.

Putting together this post was so much fun and forced me to look back over the year and pick my top 10 favorite books I read. I’ve already started on next year’s list.

5. My decision to take a sabbatical from speaking was a good one.

From now until August or maybe September, my speaking board and I have decided I needed a sabbatical from speaking. It has been such beautiful relief for my soul to not have to prepare to talk and travel, as preparing for speaking is by far the part of my job that take the most time and energy. I love the speaking part of speaking – I don’t love the leading up, the preparing, and the away from home part.

6. Seeing friends takes intention.

Because of my more flexible schedule for the next 6 months, I’ve made some plans to see friends on purpose – and not just coffee dates, but also whole weekends! That wasn’t as easy when the kids were younger, but having older kids has many perks. This is one of them.

7. Simply Tuesday landed on the Wall Street Journal Best Seller list at #3 for non-fiction ebooks this month.

I’m not sure what else to say about that except thank you. It’s because you all bought it, shared it, and talked about it. What a gift.

I’m currently {and very slowly} reading An Unhurried Life. It’s speaking so deeply to my current season of life. Thanks for the recommendation! Also, I feel the same way about speaking and am experiencing the same release in time off from that as well. You lead well, Emily. Thankful for you.

One of many lessons I have learned in January is the importance to celebrate milestones, it helps you to continue on the path that you have chosen…the goals that you have set. Celebrate those steps made. 🙂 Thanks for the webinar, it was wonderful and very informative. You were great!

I learned that change is inevitable always! You can’t count on much, but God and Hs promises!! I also learned that I am stronger and more organized than I thought! I got through a ton of change with my aging dad during January. It took a lot out of me emotionally, physically and spiritually!

So I was totally prepared this month for this post. Why, you ask? Oh it’s because I had my new Miquelrius blue handy dandy notebook (at your recommendation via blog post) with a section titled “January: what I learned” I’m still getting used to it and I didn’t have exactly profound things written down and half the things I wrote I couldn’t share on the blog – sounds naughty but not – anyways, the notebook I’m loving and it’s helping. I just wish it had tabs? How do you do that – section it off for different stuff? I’m rambling. Good night.

Oh, and, I just sat staring at that swearing in photo. How many times have I seen it? Hundreds? I’m still struck by Mrs. Kennedy’s face. It’s pure shock. Can you even imagine? Lady Bird Johnson’s face speaks fear to me. Whew. What a day.
I was in Dallas in November for a conference. They had blocked off all the roads around our hotel for a movie filming. It was the roads all around the Book Exchange building. Evidently they are making a movie about LBJ.